Improvement in machines for stuffing leather



1. A. anos.

Machines for Stuflng Leather.

No.l47,379.

P .atented Feb. 10.1874.

INVENTOR WITNESSE 51% (Lm,

My WeA/, 3.1/

ATTORNEYS.

ATENE OFFICE.

JOHN A. ENOS, OF PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB OF PART OF HIS RIGHT TO WASHINGTON SIMONDS AND OHAS. A. GARDNER, OF

SAME PLACE.

IMPRQVEMENT IN Mixer-unse roe STUFFING LEATHER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,379, dated February 10, 1874; application led J anuary 29, 1874.

To all whom t may concern: p

Be it known that I, JOHN A. ENos, of Peabody, in the countyof Essex and State of Mas sachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Machines for Stuflin g Leather;

and I do hereby declare that the following Ais a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of a vertical longitudinal section of my device for stuffing leather. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section 'of the same. Fig. 31s a vertical transverse section of the same.

This invention has relation to a process of treating leather known in the art as stutt ing, which process consists in forcing fatty matter into the body of the leather for the purpose of softening and rendering the skins pliant or supple. The nature of my invention consists in subjecting the leather, at'ter it has been smeared with fatty matter, to the action of a heated atmosphere in a close chamber, in which chamber the heat is retained by means of non-conductin g walls, the heat being applied in the chamber by means of coils of pipes through which heated air or steam is forced, which coils are arranged above and below one or more removable racks on which the skins are placed, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The following is a description of my improvenient.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a chest in which the skins are stuffed. This chest is preferably rectangular in form, and its walls are double, with an air-space, a., between them for the purpose of preventing a rapid radiation of heat. To still further prevent this radiation, I cover the sides, bottom, top, and ends of the chest with felt, b, or some other suitable poor conductor of heat, which felt will be secured in place by straps, nails, or other convenient means. Inside of this chest I arrange heating-coils B B, which will be supplied with heated air or steam, so as to maintain within the chest a temperature of about 1600 Fahrenheit. Between the coils B B, and supported on ledges, is a horizontal rack, O,which rack is removable, when a door, D, at the end of the chest is opened.

If desirable several removable racks may be employed, having heating-coils arranged between them. It is on these racks C that the hides are placed during the process of stuffing them.

After the skins are prepared for stuffing, and the fatty matter is smeared over their surfaces, they are hung up to dry, where they remain a sufficient length of time for the leather to absorb the iiuid portions of the fatty matter. The more solid portions of the fat will remain on the surfaces of the skins, and it is this fat (tallow) which I force into the body of the `leather by subjecting the skins to a heated atmosphere in the tightlyclosed chest A, above described. The skins are allowed to remain in the chest for about one minute, at the expiration of which time they can be quickly removed from the chest by drawing out the racks O. I thus avoid any liability of burning or otherwise injuring the leather; at the same time I am enabled to perform the stuffing process with great rapidity and more perfectly than can be done under the old process of treating the hides in large apartments. I am also able to stuif the skins whether they be wet or dry.

W' hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The process of stuffing hides, consisting in smearing them with fatty substances and subjecting them to the action of heat in a stationary chest at a .temperature of about 1600 Fahrenheit, substantially as described.

2. In a hide-stufiing machine, the chest A, having non-radiating walls, in combination with heaters B and one or more removable racks, O, substantially as described.

3. The felt covering, in combination with the double wall-chest A, one or more heaters B, and one or more removable racks, O, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. ENOS.

Witnesses: i

GEORGE E. UPHAM, RoBEE'r EvEEErre 

